Attempts to dig up the one-time bad blood between PAS and UMNO will only derail the agenda for unity now, said Senator Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

The Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said the two parties should instead focus on consensus to ensure the interests of Muslims in the country.

"Why is there a need to revive old issues when today's generation was not around at that time? In fact, the majority of today's leaders were not part of that baggage, that history.

“If we want to talk about unity, consensus is most important. The two parties must be honest and sincere and not bring up each other’s weaknesses,” he told reporters after closing the Malaysian Al-Azhar Alumni Regional Conference 2015 here today.

He was asked to comment on the attitude of certain quarters which seemed to be uncomfortable with the agenda for unity between PAS and UMNO, and revived issues on purpose to cause friction between the two political parties.

Asyraf Wajdi said he felt that UMNO and PAS had their own strengths and weaknesses, and it was better if the two parties focused their efforts on unity which is demanded by Islam.

Earlier, in his address, he said the country was in need of a guideline and continuous discussion pioneered by ulama playing the role of the third force in assisting the nation’s leaders who had differing political beliefs and ideologies.

“We know that the ulama should guide the leaders and the country because, when they discuss something, they must have credibility. Nothing could be better if the ulama is apolitical.

“I honestly feel this should be done by a third force. Although I am a member of the UMNO Supreme Council, I feel it cannot be done by UMNO. PAS also cannot do it as political parties will always have their vested interests,” he said.

Asyraf Wajdi said unity based on political interests would not last and that only unity founded on religion would survive and receive the blessings of Allah (God).

He said the agenda of unity based on political interests, on the need to win elections and on worldly matters would be rudderless, remain mere rhetoric and not be permanent.

“But unity based on Islamic teachings will be blessed by Allah.

"And we do not have to worry about whether we will be persecuted, ridiculed, fooled or tricked because we are nurtured by Allah for we implement what is required by Allah. This is what the third force must drive," he said.

The three-day seminar, which was opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday, carried the theme “Unity of the Ummah Transcends Ideologies” and came up with seven resolutions.

One of the resolutions called for the realisation of collaboration between PAS and UMNO transcending their political ideologies in the interests of Muslims and the nation.

Another sought the empowerment of the concept of 'Wasatiyyah' (moderation) that had been propagated by Najib in various fields to confront the challenges currently faced by Muslims.